Clattenburg has left the scene while the Football Association and Premier League look into Forest’s shocking claim that VAR Stuart Attwell is biased.
Mark Clattenburg has stepped down from his role as Nottingham Forest’s referee analyst following the club’s handling of contentious VAR decisions. Clattenburg, who was appointed to the position in February, was tasked with evaluating refereeing performances and guiding the club’s response to perceived injustices on the field.
However, after Forest’s statement on social media following their 2-0 defeat by Everton, which accused VAR Stuart Attwell of bias due to his alleged support of relegation rivals Luton Town, Clattenburg faced calls to resign. The statement sparked a significant backlash, leading to Clattenburg’s decision to step down from his role.
Both the Premier League and the Football Association launched investigations into Forest’s accusation of bias against an official, a matter taken very seriously by both organizations and the referees’ body, the PGMOL.
Mark Clattenburg decided to step down from his role before the investigations concluded, stating that he had carried out his duties “in good faith.” However, he acknowledged that his actions had inadvertently caused tension between Forest and the governing bodies of the sport.
Forest’s allegation of bias against an official has prompted inquiries from the Premier League, the Football Association, and the PGMOL, the organization that oversees referees. These parties take the allegation very seriously.
Clattenburg left before the investigations’ findings were completed, stating he carried out his duties “in good faith” but acknowledging he had created “unintended friction” between Forest and the organizations in charge of overseeing the game.
In addition, Clattenburg used the occasion to make a final jab at pundits after receiving harsh criticism on several TV shows, most notably from Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville on Sky Sports.
I sincerely believe that such a job has a place and importance in the modern game, thus it is unfortunate that such emotions and the outcome were not what I had anticipated. I’m appreciative of NFFC and hope the best for them going forward and for the rest of the season. It has been a privilege.
Forest initially demanded that the audio of VAR’s analysis of the Everton match be made available to the public, but he eventually agreed to hear it in private when the PGMOL made an offer. Although it is believed that Forest has now heard the recording, they have not yet commented.
Referee head Howard Webb addressed the incident on Sky Sports’ Mic’d Up, saying, “The game is played by human beings, it’s officiated by human beings.” It is our responsibility to recognize the right actions made on the field in order to try to ensure that we have a good impact on the game.
“This wasn’t one [Callum Hudson-Odoi’s denied penalty appeal].” If that doesn’t occur, the VAR constantly detects when a mistake has occurred on the field and intervenes. Naturally, they are also human and must make judgments, therefore we always strive to minimize the amount of mistakes we commit.